Ten intrepid souls met up on a cool but dry day. First stop was Cadover Cross for a photocall
and then we were off on the search for lettered stones and, of course,
longhouses (this is my walk after all).
Around and along the ridge, of Wigford Down, searching vaguely
for the first ‘L’ stone which didn’t seem to be where it was supposed to be so
we settled for a rather fine cairn and cist instead. Onward then to cross over the Neolithic
enclosure banks (yes I know, everyone thinks it’s an Iron age Hill Fort, but it
now seems it’s not!) and out to the Dewerstone Hill Tor. The weather was even fine enough for a clear
view of the sea and the Plymouth Breakwater.
Some very interesting carvings on the tor – examples of
early graffiti maybe, though one says “Carrington – Obit Septembris
MDCCCXXX”. – Dartmoor Poet Noel Thomas
Carringotn who wrote ‘The Banks of the Tamar’ and ‘Dartmoor’.
Back along the ridge to finally find a ‘L’ stone. L for Lopes recording the boundary between
Lopes (Maristowe) and Scoble land.
Following these through some lovely gorsey brush we then emerged at
……… wait for it…… a longhouse. Coffee had been ordered but there was no one
home so we had to resort to sitting on the banks and enjoying what we had
brought with us.
Feeling refreshed we attempted to find some more ‘L’ stones
whilst wading through some gloriously muddy boggy bits. Pausing only to give Urgles Cross, in the
distance, a quick wave. Having reached
the road we had another vain search for a bench mark before heading down the
road to find the first of the next lot of stones ‘BA’. We followed these up the hill and visited a
second Longhouse (someone got really excited!).
The “Peak” of Wigford Down was reached and another fine
cairn visited. No more Ba Ba stones (not
a black sheep to be seen) – BA for Buckland Abbey – not the ancient variety of
Abbey but marking the boundary of the Drake family’s ownership of Buckland
Abbey.
It was then a straightforward meander down, past the old
clay pits, now fishing ponds, and back to the cars. And onwards to the Walkhampton Inn for
another fine lunch. The weather had been
good to us with no rain, but no sun until we were sat in the pub, but we were
grateful that we only had wet feet and the rest stayed dry.